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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024spare /spɛr/USA pronunciation v., spared, spar•ing, adj., spar•er, spar•est, n. v. - to refrain from harming, punishing, or killing:[~ + object]The queen decided to spare the condemned man.
- to deal gently or kindly with:[~ + object]The critic's harsh review did not spare anyone.
- to save, as from discomfort:[~ + object + object]They kept the truth from you to spare you needless embarrassment.
- to omit or withhold:[~ (+ object) + object]Spare (me) the gory details.
- to keep oneself from using;
choose not to use:[~ + object]to spare the rod and spoil the child (= To fail to beat a child sometimes is to spoil the child). - to give or lend, as from a supply, esp. without inconvenience:[~ + object]Can you spare a dollar?
- to use or give a small amount of:[~ + object]Don't spare the whipped cream!
adj. - kept in reserve, as for possible use:a spare part.
- being more than needed:a spare bedroom where you'd be welcome to stay.
- not taken up with work or other commitments;
free:spare time. - restricted:a spare diet.
- lean or thin, such as a person:a short, spare man weighing about 100 lbs.
n. [countable] - Automotivea spare thing or part, as an extra tire for emergency use.
Idioms- Idioms to spare, remaining;
left over:We finished early, with time to spare. spare•ly, adv. spare•ness, n. [uncountable] WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024spare (spâr),USA pronunciation v., spared, spar•ing, adj., spar•er, spar•est, n. v.t. - to refrain from harming or destroying;
leave uninjured; forbear to punish, hurt, or destroy:to spare one's enemy. - to deal gently or leniently with;
show consideration for:His harsh criticism spared no one. - to save from strain, discomfort, embarrassment, or the like, or from a particular cause of it:to spare him the bother; to spare her needless embarrassment.
- to refrain from, forbear, omit, or withhold, as action or speech:Spare us the gory details.
- to refrain from employing, as some instrument or recourse:to spare the rod.
- to set aside for a particular purpose:to spare land for a garden.
- to give or lend, as from a supply, esp. without inconvenience or loss:Can you spare a cup of sugar? Can you spare me a dollar till payday?
- to dispense with or do without:We can't spare a single worker during the rush hour.
- to use economically or frugally;
refrain from using up or wasting:A walnut sundae, and don't spare the whipped cream! - to have remaining as excess or surplus:We can make the curtains and have a yard to spare.
v.i. - to use economy;
be frugal. - to refrain from inflicting injury or punishment;
exercise lenience or mercy. - [Obs.]to refrain from action;
forbear. adj. - kept in reserve, as for possible use:a spare part.
- being in excess of present need;
free for other use:spare time. - frugally restricted or meager, as a manner of living or a diet:a spare regime.
- lean or thin, as a person.
- scanty or scant, as in amount or fullness.
- sparing, economical, or temperate, as persons.
n. - Automotivea spare thing, part, etc., as an extra tire for emergency use.
- Ceramicsan area at the top of a plaster mold for holding excess slip.
- Sport[Bowling.]
- the knocking down of all the pins with two bowls.
- a score so made. Cf. strike (def. 78).
- bef. 900; (verb, verbal) Middle English sparen, Old English sparian; cognate with Dutch, German sparen, Old Norse spara; (noun, nominal and adjective, adjectival) Middle English; compare Old English spær sparing, frugal (cognate with Old High German spar, Old Norse sparr
spare′a•ble, adj. spare′ly, adv. spare′ness, n. spar′er, n. - 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged reserve.
- 14, 15.See corresponding entry in Unabridged extra.
- 17.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See thin.
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